The Nats try to avoid a disheartening sweep against the Orioles this afternoon.

Remember all those close games the Nationals were winning? Yeah, not so much anymore. In dropping the first two games of this series to the Orioles by scores of 2-1 and 6-5, the Nats have lost their first two one-run games at home this season. They had been 8-0 at Nationals Park. Overall, they've gone 4-7 in their last 11 one-run contests after opening the season 6-1 in those ultra-close ballgames.

If they are to reverse that trend today (and salvage one game from this Battle of the Beltways series) they'll both need Stephen Strasburg to bounce back from his shaky start against the Padres — here's guessing he avoids all ointments, creams and other topical medications this morning — and their lineup to produce early against Orioles left-hander Wie-Yin Chen.

Not wanting to tinker too much with the reconfigured lineup he used last night, Davey Johnson is sticking with his second baseman as his leadoff man. That man, however, is not Steve Lombardozzi as it was last night but Danny Espinosa, who returns after getting one night off. Though he hasn't done it yet this year, Espinosa has led off 38 times in his career … producing a .162 average and .235 on-base percentage.

Mark just put this out: Also, total attendance for the weekend was over 120KMark Zuckerman‏@MarkZuckerman#Nats attendance now up 38% from last year at this point, roughly 8,000 per game. Only #MLB teams with higher increase: #Marlins, #Tigers.

Espinosa should learn something from LaRoche. The latter spoke about not expanding his zone in response to his mini-slump the last few days and is clearly making that adjustment today. Espinosa talks about it and then just keeps making the same mistakes.

If Desi is in the 5 hole then what we really need Lombardozzi in the lead off spot . Espi is still green and I think he will figure out the hitting. Ankiel – I think what you see is what you get. Bases loaded – none score. Nice to see Zim heating up with the bat, but I also saw him turn his ankle. His base running is quite an adventure.